FIRST ADULT PASSPORT APPLICATION FORM REQUIREMENTS

Application Form

Overview

The Passport Application Form is the first requirement for any kind of British passport application. The form is an A3-sized brown document with 10 sections that is issued by Her Majesty's Passport Office. The same form is used for all types of passport applications; however the way it is completed differs. You will find guidance below on how to successfully complete it.

Where to obtain it

The passport application form can be obtained from:

Rapid British Passports UK: We can send the British passport application form to our clients by post. Please click here to request the passport application form.

How to complete the application form

General requirements

Minor mistakes can be crossed out in black ink. Correction fluid is not permitted.

If you make more than three mistakes on any line or do not provide a clear signature in Section 9, you should complete a new application form.

Guidance per section

Section 1: What kind of passport is your application for?

Put a cross in the box for "your first British passport".

Everybody receives by default a 32-page passport. However, if you think you need a 48-page passport, put a cross in the right box.

Section 2: Who will the passport be for?

Your full name needs to correspond with the names you have on your marriage, nationality or birth certificate.

For persons who have a middle name, just make sure to leave one box empty for a gap in between your first and last names.

You are only permitted 30 characters (including spaces) for your first and middle names, and then another 30 characters for your surname. If you find that your names won't fit in 30 characters or less, and then please write them how you wish for them to appear on your passport. In Section 8 you need to write your full name so this can be included in your passport on the observation page.

Please give a full residential address from the United Kingdom. The Passport Office could very well check that you do actually live at the address given. If they do discover that you do not actually live there, your application could be delayed unless you provide a suitable explanation of your circumstances in Section 8.

Your passport will be returned to the address given by the Passport Office. To have your passport delivered to a different address you will need to explain why and provide that return address in Section 8 of the application form. For customers of Rapid British Passports this does not apply as we collect all passports from the Passport Office ourselves and post them back to you.

To indicate gender, please cross the box to state whether you are male or female.

The names of the town and country of your birth need to be given next. These details must be same as what you have on your registration, birth or naturalisation certificate, or they must be the same as what is stated on your previous British passport.

A telephone number from the UK should be given. International contact details are rejected by the Passport Office. A text relay number can be written in Section 8 if it does not fit in the boxes in this section.

Use Section 8 for any details from this section that you did not have enough space to provide.

Section 3: Have you had or been included on a passport before?

Cross the box "No" as this is your first passport application.

Section 4: Parents' details

Please fill in your parents' details.

If your mother and father were born after 31 December 1982, or were their places of birth were abroad you must also provide details of your grandparent in Section 8 or on a piece of paper given separately.

Parents are defined as 'mother' and 'father' for nationality purposes, by law. Achieving nationality by birth is not always possible through either parent's national status. This includes parents who are both of the same sex. It is therefore very necessary that the 'mother' and 'father' are entered in the right boxes. Others taking on a parental role like step-parents who are not defined by the terms 'mother' or 'father' should not add their details to this section.

For any information that you are unable to provide, please look to Section 8 or write a letter addressed to the Passport Office that outlines all of the reasons why you cannot provide that information.

Section 5: Your official certificate of registration or naturalisation

Place a cross in the box labelled 'no' if the applicant has been British since birth. If you have done this then you must not complete any more details in this section.

If it is applicable to you, please fill out the section and hand over a copy of your certificate of registration or naturalisation together with all the documents of your passport application.

Section 6: Children aged 12-15

Not applicable.

Section 7: Blank

Leave blank

Section 8: More information

Section 8 is used for:

Completing a section that has not been fully completed due to a lack of space in a previous section

Supplying a short note explaining why you may not have provided sufficient information

Explaining why a signature could not be provided in either Section 6 or 9. If you wish you may also attach a letter explaining, which could be provided by someone such as a career, doctor, parent or social worker.

Offering up any extra information or details you believe support your application.

Section 9: Declaration

Ensure your signature does not touch the borders of the box.

Section 10: Countersignature

This section needs to be completely filled out by the counter signatory.

How does one define a counter signatory? A counter signatory is someone who can unhesitatingly confirm to the best of their knowledge your identity and that the information and details of your personal life which you have provided to the Passport Office are correct and true, along with verifying that the passport photo is of you. This person, the counter signatory, must be a holder of a valid UK passport, live in the United Kingdom, and have been a friend or acquaintance of the applicant for no less than 2 years, work in a professional capacity and must in no way be related to the applicant (by birth or marriage), be in a personal or romantic relationship with the applicant or be employed by the HM Passport Office. For even more information on who is allowed to be your counter signatory, click on the following link here.

A home or business address must be provided of the counter signatory, where they may be reached. All contact details must also be given.

One of the applicant's photos must be certified by the person providing the countersignature to say that it is certainly a true likeness of ‘applicant's name' and then sign and date it.

The counter signatory must ensure to write their initials next to any mistakes or errors they may make in Section 10 of the application.

The Passport Office run checks to ensure that the counter signatory is genuine and they may request that you provide a brand new application form with a new counter signatory if they find reasons not to be satisfied with the one you have already provided.

The signature of the counter signatory needs to remain within the borders of the box on the form.